News about agriculture in New York State and information farmers and consumers can use in their daily lives.

Friday, September 6, 2013

Cornell Professor Says Chobani Mold Does Not Cause Disease

This news is from Cornell University:

Randy Worobo, a professor of Food Science in Cornell
University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, said Friday that the mold connected with the recall of some Chobani yogurt products is not disease causing.

Worobo, a leading
expert on food spoilage, and microbial food safety and quality, said “Mucor circinelloides is a species of mold commonly associated
with fruits, vegetables and dairy that has been reported to cause
spoilage like swelling and bloating in yogurt. It is not considered a
disease-causing foodborne microorganism.

“This mold should not pose a health risk to most consumers. Very
rarely, it can act as an opportunistic pathogen, but not through food
and usually only for people with compromised immune systems through
inhalation. The organism is regularly used for the production of natural
flavor compounds that are widely used in the food industry.”

Chobani announced a recall of some Greek yogurt after consumers reported a strange taste to some product and finding bloated containers. ABC News reported the mold originated in the Chobani Idaho plant, not the one in Chenango County in New York state.